Combined fluid and electrical coupling for electric discharge devices



Nov. 22, 1932. V 7 NQLTE 1,888,833 COMBINED FLUID AND'ELECTRIGAL COUPLIHNG FOR ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICES Filed July 28, 1931 000mm FLU/0Q inventor:

Henry; J. Nolte His Attc ar'neg.

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Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY J. NOLTE, 0F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COMBINED FLUID AND ELECTRICAL COUPLING FOR ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICES Application filed July 28, 1931. Serial No. 553,602.

The present invention relates to electric discharge apparatus of the fluid cooled type and more particularly to mechanical couplings for detachably connecting the cooled electrodes to sources of cooling fluid.

In the translation of electrical energy by water cooled power devices, it is sometimes necessary quickly to replace one tube by an other in which case the matter of disconnecting and connecting the fluid cooling conduit has heretofore presented difficulty. Most of the difficulty centers in the coupling member which joins the tube conduit with the fluid conduit. This member has generally been of a makeshift or temporary character and has offered neither ease of connection and disconnection, nor a strictly fluid-tight joint at the place of connection. An object of the present invention is to provide a coupling of improved design which will obviate these disadvantages. The adaptation of the improved coupling is illustrated in connection with a split-anode, magnetically controlled electric discharge device, such as is described and claimed in the Okabe application, Serial No. 285,008, filed June 13, 1928, entitled Oscillation generators and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. However, it will be understood that the coupling advantageously may be employed in any place Where it is desired quickly to connect together, in a rigid but detachable manner, two or more conduits carrying air, water, oil or other fluid. Indeed, the present invention is applicable even to rough exhaust systems for connecting the conduit secured to a tube or electrode to the pump.

The tube arrangement consists of an evacuated envelope 1 containing two semi-circular mitten anodes 2 arranged about an axially disposed filament 3. There are two flat, serially connected coils 4 disposed concentrically about the filament and anodes whose purpose is to modify the electrostatic field between the electrodes in such a manner as to cause generati on of oscillations when the tube is connected in appropriate and well known circuits. The anodes are hollow and are peened longitudinally as shown at 5 so as to form a continuous passageway for the cooling medium along the upper, lower and end portions of each member. Each anode is secured to a reentrant portion of the envelope and is provided with a pair of fluid cooling conduits 6 which preferably are of a flexible character and terminate in a collar 7, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. The structural details of the conduit specifically illustrated, are described and claimed in the copending application, Serial N 0. 554,708, entitled Combined fluid and electrical connector for electric discha rgc devices, filed Aug. 3, 1931, in the name of Henry J. Nolte and Elmer D. McArthur, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. stood that for the purpose of the present invention any satisfactory type of conduit may be employed provided it terminates in an en- However, it will be underlarged portion suitable for clamping, as will appear hereinafter.

The improved coupling consists essentially of a bored barrel member 8, preferably of brass, which carries at the end nearer to the collar 7 a counter-bored or recessed cap member 9 and at the other end is tapered down to a threaded portion 10. The flange portion of the cap 9 is of the proper diameter to fit snugly over the circular collar 7 when the coupling is in a clamped position. The member 11 is a piece of rigid metal tubing which communicates with the source of cooling fluid (not shown) such as water or air and is secured to the threaded portion of the barrel member by means of a nut 1:2. The clamped portion of the coupling consists of a double-jaw piece 13 pivotally mounted on a yoke member 14 which straddles the barrel. The yoke is pivotally secured to the barrel by screws 15 and is integrally joined to a rectangular bar 16 which extends along the length of the barrel at the top. The bar 16 provides a piv tal bearin for the member 13 by means of screws 17 The barrel carries a stud 18 which serves as an adjustable stop for the clamped member, as will be pointed out hereinafter in greater detail. The double-jaw piece 13 is cut away at the rear and has a raised portion 19 provided with a thumb screw 20. The screw extends through let and outletconduits for supplying the member 13 and serves to move this member about the pivot 17.

The operation of the combined clamp and coupling member is simple. After the cap member 9 receives the collar 7 of the flexible conduit, the yoke 14k is swung about its pivot 15, carrying with it the doublejaw piece 13. The thumb screw is loosened sufficiently so that the jaws may fall over the conduit 6 and slidably engage the remote or inner surface of the collar 7 at diametral positions. The thumb screw is then turned so as to produce a clockwise rotation of the jaw member about its pivot and to tighten the jaws about the collar. This operation serves to clamp the flexible conduit rigidly to the coupling member. In order to detach the conduit, the reverse operation is necessary, i. e. the thumb screw 20 is loosened to cause the jaws to recede from the inner surface of the collar 7 and when far enough removed, the collar is readily disengaged from the recess.

The stop member or stud 18 provides a simple and effective arrangement for regulating the distance between the end of the cap member 9 and the inner surface of the jaws so that when the thumb screw is tightened a strong clamping effect is produced and in addition offers a convenient method for taking up the wear on the parts, particularly on the clamping surfaces. As these members wear, the height of the stop member may be reduced by filing until the proper clamping distance is obtained between the inner jaw surface and the cap.

Since it is usually necessary to provide influid to an electrode, a pair of coupling members may be provided for each anode, side by side, and if desired, may be mounted in cradles 21, secured to a common bottom piece 22. The latter may be permanently secured to a convenient support of insulation material (not shown) and if desired, electrical connection may be made to the bottom piece in any suitable manner so that when the coupling is disconnected the anode energization circuit is broken as well as the fluid supply. The coupling thus serves the double purpose of providing mechanical and electrical connections to an electric discharge device in which both functions are exercised simultaneously. It is apparent that the improved coupling is not only easy to operate, in connecting and disconnecting, but also provides a rigid joint between the contacting surfaces. The joint is so effective as to form practically a hermetical seal.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A coupling for detachably connecting two conduits together, one of which terminates in a collar, and the other of which is provided with a recessed member adapted to receive said collar and with a device adapted to clamp the collar to the recessed member, said device comprising a yoke member pivotally mounted on the recessed mem ber and a jaw piece pivotally mounted on the yoke member, and means in addition to the yoke member for moving the jaw piece on its pivot thereby causing the jaws to exert a clamping effect on the collar and the recessed member.

2. A coupling for detachably connecting a conduit which communicates with the heatradiating surface of an electrode in an electric discharge device to a conduit which communicates with a source of cooling fluid, one of said conduits terminating in an enlarged portion and the other in a recessed member adapted to receive said portion, and means for clamping said portion to said member, said means comprising a yoke member pivotally mounted on said recessed member and a jaw piece pivotally mounted on the yoke member and adapted to engage said enlarged portion, said j aw piece being provided with a thumb screw for controlling the pressure exerted by the jaws on said portion.

In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand.

HENRY J. NOLTE. 

